You’re the one being ridiculous, centre-halves indeed. 
They’re actually the obvious replacement management team.
What’s all this fuss about needing a CF??
Citeh won the league without one
1 Like
Stop
Just stop…
I think we all need to come to the painful conclusion that we have a shit forward line and a shit defence, the pain does fade of that reality once accepted trust me, the almost comedic nature of our scouting system is apparent to others teams in the same boat as us, to be fair we won’t be in that boat for long.
But still give the team our undying support, no matter how shit they are right? 
4 Likes
Always, I am Southampton FC until I pass away and that gives me validity in calling them out when they’re shite and not good enough, I won’t take that from other fans and will cast out wank stat diversions but between us the fact is we’re fucking shite for the league we’re in and offer nothing.
From the below piece:
“A penny for the thoughts of Che Adams, unused off the bench and untrusted, who The Athletic understands the club are willing to move on this summer.”
Can you paste the text?
Not entirely surprising given he didn’t get any minutes on Saturday.
I really hope the club have a tangible master plan in their back pocket that doesn’t involve Aribo and Stuart Armstrong upfront.
That’s the only Che relevant bit - full article below:
“It felt like the opponent switched in the next gear after the first 20 minutes and we could not follow,” Ralph Hasenhuttl told The Athletic after Southampton’s 4-1 loss away to Tottenham Hotspur. “It was frustrating to see how big the gap is between the two teams. After the first goal, you had the feeling they were absolutely in the game. They then smashed us with crosses and we couldn’t defend in the way we want to.”
There may have been fresh faces and formations this summer, but Southampton’s ingrained, seemingly habitual, frailties remain.
Dysfunction, again, spread like wildfire and the defeat was the type that has become all too synonymous with Hasenhuttl’s Southampton. To inflame the wounds, the usual suspects — Son Heung-min and Harry Kane — did not even have to score, despite 21 goals between them in this fixture.
Southampton’s 3-2 win away to Tottenham in February was viewed internally as the apex of Hasenhuttl’s time at the club. That evening, they registered 23 shots at goal and ran riot in the chaos they had created.
There was a period when the largest stick to beat the manager with was his perceived inflexibility. It was thought he was too beholden to his 4-2-2-2 system, steadfast on pressure from the front and man marking.
Yet, in his fourth full season, those principles have waned, clearly perturbed by the groundhog days eroding his intentions. Hasenhuttl’s non-stop pressing has been scaled back and replaced with a more pragmatic approach. Functionality over flair, it was hoped, would stop the defensive bleeding.
What makes the latest instance of self-implosion so cutting is that the plan was, initially at least, bearing green shoots of optimism against Antonio Conte’s team. An opening-day game to a team who qualified for the Champions League meant, to some extent, the scoreline was almost trivial. Attention instead centred on the need for encouragement in the performance.
James Ward-Prowse’s opener was demonstrative of the upsides within the tactical setup, operating in a free No 8 role with license to get into the box. Increased flexibility gave Southampton width they had lacked.
Certain attacking choreography — for example, cutting the ball back and crossing from deep areas — looked well rehearsed and threatening.
But soon after Ward-Prowse’s volley, the drawbacks of the system were exposed. Each passing minute illuminated the old habits from the same players: getting caught on the break, unforced errors and a lack of defensive accountability.
Hasenhuttl said the team’s approach to defending crosses had been “smashed” by Spurs. Any team that operates with wing-backs is susceptible to switches of play and overloads out wide. Repeatedly, Tottenham overwhelmed Southampton in those areas, with their two first-half goals stemming from each flank.
“It (the 3-5-2) has an effect because you are not always having pressure on the ball,” Hasenhuttl said. “They then have a free cross and it’s not easy to defend in the box. But this happens when you play in this shape. We are normally more active up front and give them more pressure.
“I did not expect us to struggle so much defending crosses. This was a little bit annoying.”
Playing three centre-backs and stationing the wing-backs high and wide in possession leaves the team exposed in the defensive channels, vulnerable to pace and power on transition.
The own goal from Mohammed Salisu encapsulated every long-term flaw. In the space of 15 seconds, they went from a side in comfortable possession to Salisu hacking a clearance into his net.
The recurring inability of his team to defend one-v-one tainted the more heartening aspects of Southampton’s afternoon, such as the performances of debutants Romeo Lavia and Joe Aribo.
Southampton did not play with a recognised forward throughout the second half, with Aribo and Stuart Armstrong, two players who looked like they would compete for a spot in midfield, paired up front. A penny for the thoughts of Che Adams, unused off the bench and untrusted, who T he Athletic understands the club are willing to move on this summer.
It is patently obvious that Hasenhuttl’s stance on pressing is being weakened by the same self-inflicted defensive mistakes. While more players in advanced positions increase ball wins and pressing effectiveness, if they are played through, it leaves the defenders, who he knows are inferior in quality, exposed one-v-one. This illustrates Hasenhuttl’s tenure and just how fine the line is between success and total disaster during games.
Southampton have conceded 34 goals in 13 games and won once. Every one of Tottenham’s four goals were replications of past errors. Having lost their final four games of last season, it is now the second time they have lost five consecutive league matches under Hasenhuttl. Dips in form are evidenced for being prolonged and painful.
Southampton are winless in their nine opening-day fixtures — the worst record out of all current Premier League sides. It is only the beginning, yet the manner of performance struck an all too familiar tone.
4 Likes
Cheers 
2 Likes
4 Likes
2 Likes
Would it be a fair assessment to say IF we only bought in a CB and a striker by the end of the window, most would have some optimism for the coming season? Bearing in mind all them perceived permutations and combinations of having too many CBs on the books?
At this point I think any optimism stems from having a certain type and pedigree of CB and a certain type and pedigree of striker. It isn’t just a numbers game.
Put simply, there’s a need for players who will immediately improve the first team. Not wait around on the bench for a year to bed in or in our case so far, ‘come of age’. Because, taking in to consideration the last 15 games or so, we may not have the luxury of time.
Totally agree sir. Would someone who still has experience and age on their side come here after the last 15? Are we then needing to shop in the 30+ y/o bracket where experience is abound but can get a few knocks etc and be out weeks on end?